Antislip sheet product



Patented June 20, 1933 PATENT OFFICE anqnnn'r w. CH:

ONNEAU, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS anrismr snnnr rrtonuor Ho Drawing.

This invention relates to an anti-slip sheet product adapted to be placed between a smooth polished surface, such as a floor, desk or table top and an object supported thereby such as a rug, mat, desk pad, telephone or the like. Mats adapted to be placed between a rug and a polished floor to prevent slipping of the rug have been made, heretofore, by coating or dipping a woven fabric in a rub- 19 her solution followed by other treatments,

such as the vulcanizing of the rubber. The coating of such mats after a relatively short period of use becomes hard and loses, in part at least, its anti-slipping characteristics and tends to scratch or mar the floor. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved antislip sheet product for the above stated purpose which will maintain its original soft and flexible nature and antislip 2G) characteristics throughout long periods of time.

In accordance with the invention a fabric, such as burlap, preferably, in the condition in which it is received from the manufacturer,

Z5 is treated with a dilute solution in water of liquid latex and subjected to a drying operation. The treated burlap is then given a second latex bath treatment which may be of a stronger latex solution in water and subjected to a further drying operation. If desired, the latex solution may contain a small quantity of dye to color the burlap and may also contain a small amount of sizing.

In the manufacture of burlap it is common practice to add some mineral oil to the raw jute in the batching process in order to soften the fibres so they may be spun satisfactorily. In the average mill not less than five percent of oil is used, based on the weight of jute be- 49 fore batching. The loss of oil during manufacture generally amounts to between five and ten percent of the quantity used, but a large quantity is retained in the finished burlap. In the preferred practice of the invention the burlapcontaining this oil is sprayed with or dipped in a solution containing about 30 parts latex, 50 parts water with or without ten parts dye and ten parts sizing, and is then subjected to a drying operation. The treated 50 burlap is then sprayed with or dipped in a Application filed July 15,

1931. Serial No. 551,066.

solution containing 45 parts latex, 45 parts water with or without 10 parts dye and is subjected to a further drymg operation to remove a part, at least of the water. It will be understood that these proportions are given by way of example only and that other suitable proportions, including solutions of like or difi'erent proportions for the two treatments, may be used and are entirely Within the scope of the invention.

The preferred method, as above stated, embodies two latex treating operations and the preferred manner of treatment in both these operations is by dipping the fabric into a bath of the latex solution. Tn the first treatment, the fabric is thoroughly saturated with the solution and in the second treatment a latex gripping and protecting coating is applied to both faces of the product resulting from the first treatment. The thorough saturation of the fabric by the first treatment causes the latex to combine with the oil and natural waxes and gums in the fabric to form a soft and fiexible product and preserve the desirable characteristics of the fabric. The drying operation following the dipping is preferably quite rapid, whereby to evaporate most of the water in the saturated fabric, seal the exposed surface, and leave the interior somewhat moist and thus relatively soft-and flexible. The exposed surface of the sheet is left substantially dry for the reception of the frictional and clinging coat to be applied by the second treatment. The dipping step of the second treatment provides a latex grip ping and protecting coating which fully encloses the treated fabric resulting from the first treatment. The drying operation of this second treatment leaves a product having both surfaces of a somewhat moist or slightly adhesive nature, this resulting from the fact that the latex and moisture have been unable to penetrate into the previously dipped fabric and have, therefore, formed a coating thereover.

It will now be seen that my improved antislip sheet product comprises a fabric base, preferably of burlap or the like, thoroughly saturated with latex which combines with the oil and vegetable gums and waxes in the fab- Y ric to produce andmaintain a soft and flexible product, and a protective frictional grippin coating ,of latex over the entire outer sur ace of the product. The fabric base has, therefore, been rendered relatively soft and flexible, particularly adapting it to the purpose for which it is to be used, and the coating thereover protects the treated fabric which, in turn, reacts on the coating to maintain its desirable soft and clinging characteristics. It should be understood that my invention herein comprises a product of this nature and that the same is not to be considered as limited to any particular method of. production. A fuller description of my preferred method of producing the product is, however, disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 595, 727, filed Feb. 29, 1932.

The resulting product is ordinarily wrapped in the form of a roll and since the adjacent convolutions'thereof would stick together tenaciously if in direct contact, a strip of paper is placed between the adjacent convolutions. The product is of such a nature that it clings to other objects in a frictional gripping manner, preventing relative sliding movement when surface contact therewith, but can be readily separated therefrom by pulling thev clinging surfaces apart. This may be because of the inherent clinging characteristics of the surface coating or because a thin skin of latex extends between the threads of the burlap and in effect forms small vacuum recesses which tend to make the product adhere more firmly to smooth surfaces and the object supported thereon.

The product of the invention when subj ected to a bomb test for a period equivalent to seven years use has shown no detrimental effects, and still retained its originalantislip characteristics. While it is not desired to limit the invention by any statement as to the cause of the long life ofthe product, it-is believed thatit maybe due in part, at least,

to the presence of oily substances present in the raw jute or to the presence of the oil incorporated in the fibre-of the burlap during the batching process. It is a fact that jute fibre contains natural vegetable waxes and gums and I believe than when these are brought into intimate contact or mixed with latex they act to inhibit or substantially'delay the oxygenation which would otherwise take place and, therefore, maintain the coating or finish of the product in soft and clinging condition for a much longer time than if not present'in the resulting composition. In the colirse of the manufacture of the product of the invention there may be small amounts of water enclosed within the coating and this may be responsible in part, at least, for the maintenance of the original antislip characteristics of the product over long periods of time.

-1 claim:

1. A tacky antislip sheet material, comprising a burlap base from which mineral oil used in its manufacture has not been re movedi impregnated with latex to form a soft and flexible sheet, and coated with latex on both faces to render the same of a frictional clinging nature.

2. A tacky antislip sheet product, comprising a. burlap base containing mineral oil or the like, added during the manufacture of the burlap, and impregnated with latex to form a soft and flexible sheet, and a coating of latex on both faces to render the same of a frictional clingin nature, the intimate relation of said oil an latex acting to inhibit or substantially delay the oxygenation of the prodnot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT W. CHARBONNEAU. 

